Incinerating apparatus



June 18, E46. c. w. NICHOLS INCINERATING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEKS.

CHARLES W McHoLs.

June 18, 1946. c. w. NICHOLS INCINERATING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 19452 Sheets-Sheet 2.

AORNEYS.

Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INCINERATINGAPPARATUS Charles w. Nichols, West Orange, N. J.

Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,710

1 Claims. 1

This invention relates to furnace apparatus for incinerating wastematerial such for example as municipal waste including garbage, refuseand trash.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly adaptable for the rapiddrying and thorough burning of waste material in relatively largequantities and of highly irregular characteristics, with substantially aminimum of expense and labor. Until recently, it has been the mostcommon practice in. burning garbage and trash, etc., to provides, gratein a simple furnace chamber, the waste material being dumped onto thegrate and thereafter stoked by manual labor to the extent necessary todistribute the material over the grate and to allow acces of air tovarious parts thereof from time to time. Such constructions have notonly involved a considerable labor expense for frequent or continuousattention by one or more workmen, but the resulting drying and burningaction on the grate is too irregular for uniform and thoroughcombustion. As a result, considerable smoldering occurs with consequentobnoxious odors, and the resulting ash is sometimes mixed withconsiderable unburned material.

In my U. S. Patent No. 2,232,556, granted February 18, 1941, there isdisclosed apparatus which has proven highly successful for eliminatingthe above noted difdculties in installations of relatively small andmedium sizes and under generally favorable conditions. According to theinvention of said patent, incinerating apparatus is provided having asubstantially horizontal hearth upon which the waste material is dried,together with a rotatable conical member equipped withhorizontally-extending arms. The conical member as well as thehorizontally-extending arms are constructed and arranged to agitate thewaste material in such fashion as to gradually feed it toward grateareas surrounding the hearth where burning thereof occurs. At the sametime, a current of air is passed through the aforesaid conical memberand arms and out through apertures therein to promote a drying actionand aid combustion. However, when using such a substantially horizontalhearth, particularly with large installations, the waste material insome cases may have a tendency to form a pile of such depth and mass atthe central, portion that the material within this portion of the pilemay not be uniformly dried to the desired extent for prompt and thoroughburning, as it is advanced outwardly toward the grate areas by rotationof the aforesaid conical member and horizontally-extending arms.

The objects of this invention include the provision of an incineratorfor eliminating or substantially minimizing the above noted difiicultyin a simple, dependable manner. In accordance with the presentinvention, I provide an incinerator hearth, having non-horizontal,inclined surface portions. Preferably, the hearth or at least itscentral portion has a raised essentially conical configuration.Accordingly, when refuse or other Waste material is placed upon thehearth, it tends to form a conical layer of more or less uniform andrelatively shallow depth, as distinguished from a solid conical pile.The invention provides for passing a current of air,'which may bepreheated if desired, through all portions of the aforesaid conicallayer of waste material to thoroughly and uniformly dry the same.Improved means i also provided for advancing portions of the wastematerial outwardly toward the grate portions surrounding the conicalhearth where burning of said waste material occurs. Preferably, arotatable hollow member is provided at the central portion of the below'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a, part ofthis specification and illustrating by way of example one form ofapparatus which may be used in carrying out the invention. The inventionconsists in such novel features, arrangements and combinations of partsas may be shown and described in connection with the apparatus hereindisclosed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 i a vertical sectional view showing a furnace constructionembodying the invention in a preferred form;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the hearth portion ofthe furnace of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the hearth portion and accompanyingparts as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2and showing certain details; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modification of theconstruction of Fig. 2-.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, asuitable foundation I is provided on which cylindrical walls l| may besupported. Such walls in turn, support a roof |2 having an inlet l3 atthe middle thereof through which waste material to be treated may beintroduced. In this manner, a furnace chamber 14 is provided which mayhave an outlet |5 in the cylindrical walls II for the escape ofcombustion gases. An ash hopper I6 is suitably sup- 4 through a suitabletubular casing as at 40 to a sprocket wheel 4| driven by a suitablemotor 42 which is coupled thereto through a speed reducer 43.

The rotatable stem 31 further comprises a flange construction at 44 forconnection of a sepp rted by the foundation ID at the lowermost portionof the cylindrical walls II, for example,

by a circular flanged member I! together with an I-beam structure as atl8. The ash hopper arable upper stem portion and located just above theabove mentioned flange 21 of the stationary cylindrical member 25. Theconstruction of these parts including cylindrical member 25 and thechain tubes 49 is such as to effectively prevent dust and ash fromentering the interior portions of the cylindrical member 25 which .mightI 8 has an opening 9 at the lowermost portion 1 thereof which isnormally closed, as by a sliding ash gate mounted on rollers 2| andengaging a stop 22 in its closed position. The ash gate 20, may, ofcourse, be opened when it is desired to remove ashes or other materialfrom the hopper l6. Access may also be had to the ash'hopper l6 forcleaning or other purposes as through doors as at 23.

The foundation I0 also supports transversely extending I-beams 24,24 onwhich a hollow cylindrical member 25 is mounted having a tapered upperportion 26 which may be flanged as at 21 to provide a bearing surface aswill be hereinafter further explained. The taperedportion 26 of thecylindrical member 25 may if desired be made integral with the hearthwhich is shown at 28.

According to the invention, the upper surface of the hearth 28 comprisesa central conical portion 29 which has a relatively large angle ofinclination with respect to a horizontal plane, together with aperipheral conical portion 30 which has a relatively small angle ofinclination with respect to the horizontal. For a purpose hereinafterdescribed, the uppermost portion of the central conical surface 29 isflanged, as at 3|. An outer annular member 32, Fig. 3, surrounds thehearth 28 and is supported in any suitable manner by the cylindricalwalls I I, for example, by a plurality of brackets one of which is shownat 33, Fig. 1. Any desired number of grates 34, Figs. 1 and 3, may be.mounted in suitable recesses provided therefor in the annular member-32. Preferably, the grates 34 are counter-balanced and pivotally mountedabout one edge as indicated at 35, Fig. 3, in order to provide fordumping of clinkers, etc. Access may be had to the grates 34 as throughdoors as at 35', Fig. 1,

Due to the generally conical construction 0 the hearth 28, the wastematerial introduced through the inlet I3 tends to form a conical layerupon the hearth 28 of generally uniform depth,

the peripheral and dried or partially dried portions of the pileextending out over the annular grate areas upon which the material isburned. The generally uniform depth of the aforesaid layer of wastematerial improves, to a great extent, the ease and rapidity with whichthe material is dried, as will more fully appear hereinafter. 7

The I-beams 24, 24 upon which the cylindrical member 25 is mounted, mayalso support a suitable ball bearing as at 36, having a rotatable hollowstem 31 mounted thereon which may be rotated in any suitable manner.Preferably as shown, a sprocket wheel 38 is flxed to the rotatable stem31. A sprocket chain 39 may encircle a portion of the sprocket wheel 38,each stretch of the chain passing from the sprocket conical hearth 28 toprovide an additional result in damage to the bearings 36 or the'driving mechanism. The upper rotatable stem portion may also haveflanged portions as at 45 engaging the above mentioned flange 3| of thebearing.

A generally conically-shaped member 48, Figs. 1 and 3, is mounted at thetop of the hollow rotatable stem 31 and secured thereto in any suitablemanner. The conical member 46 has perforations therein as indicated at41, these perforations or apertures being distributed at least over theupper surface areas of the conical member and, preferably, directedoutwardly and rearwardly as compared with the direction of rotation ofthe rotatable stem 31 whereby the waste material will readily slide pastwithout tending to enter and block the perforations against passage ofair.

The hollow stem 31 may be provided in any suitable manner with supportsfor one or more hollow perforated stoking arms. To this end, the stemmay have supporting members as at 48 each of which has a downwardlydirected cylindrical end portion 49 which may be flanged as at 50, 'Fig.3. The hollow stem may be formed with suitable openings 5|, Fig. 2, foradmitting air interiorly of the respective supporting members 48. Anarcuate stoking arm 52 may be secured to each of the supporting members48, in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, each stoking arm 52, Fig.3, may beprovided with a flange 53 which is adapted to engage theaforesaid flanges 50 interiorlyof the cylindrical end portion 49 of thesupporting member 48. Set screws may be provided as at 54 to firmlysecure the stoking arms 52 within the respective supporting members 48.It will be apparent that the stoking arms 52 may be readily adjusted tovarious angular positions relative to the supportin members 48. I

The outer end portions of the arcuate stoking arms 52 are preferablyboth curved in the same direction with respect to the normal directionof rotation thereof and-of the hollow stem 31 (as indicated by thearrow, Fig. 3). With the arms curved and arranged in this way the layerof waste material is uniformly agitated and slowly advanced onto thegrate areas upon slowly rotating the stem 31.

The stoking arms 52 preferably have a crosssection as indicated in Fig.4, in which the leading edge E forms the apex of an acute anglecomprising an upper section S and a lower section T which may besubstantially parallel to the upper conical portion 29 of the hearth 28.As shown, the surface U of the stoking arm is parallel to the surface Twhile the surface V is substantially perpendicular with respect .both tothe surfaces U, T and to the upper conical portion 29 of the hearth.

Air may be supplied to the interior of the hollow stem 31in any suitablemanner. Thus, for example, a plate as at 55, Fig. 2, may be placed alongthe lower edges of the I-beams 24, 24 and a similar plate may be placedalong the top thereof, The resulting duct may be closed ofl as at 56 andthe other end thereof connected to a suitable fan or compressor, notshown. A current of air, which may be preheated if desired, may bepassed through the hollow stem 31 to the perforations 41 in the conicalmember 46 and through perforations as at 51 in the stoking arms 52. Asshown by Figs. 3 and 4, the perforations art after understanding theinvention that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changesand modifications.

51 are located on the trailing surface V of the arms 52. Thus, as thearms 52 rotate through the pile of waste material, portions of thematerial ride upon the inclined upper surface S and then drop off therear edges of the arms, falling back onto the hearth through the streamsof air introduced through the apertures 51.

Thus, as the arms periodically engage each section of the 1ayer of wastematerial, the material is agitated vertically somewhat and allowed tofall through streams of heated air to insure a rapid and uniform dryingaction. At the same time, the conical member 46 is continuously rotatingand constantly discharging heated air into the central upper portion offreshly admitted waste material. Due to the improved hearthconstruction, the pile is of generally uniform thickness throughoutwhereby a very rapid and thorough drying action is obtained.

As the stoking arms 52 rotate, portions of the waste material aregradually advanced toward the annular grate area 32 where burningthereof occurs, this movement being facilitated by tlge arcuateconstruction of the stoking arms. The inclination of the surface S ofthe arms 52 with respect to the hearth may be varied, as hereinbeforedescribed, by angular adjustment of the arms within their sockets, tosuch an angle as to suitably advance and agitate the particular type ofwaste material being treated. It will be observed that such adjustmentswill vary the extent to which the rear portions of each arm protrude upinto the pile of waste material and thereby vary the extent to which thewaste material is agitated on each revolution of the arm. Because of thearcuate form of the arms, such adjustments-will also vary the spacingbetween the outer ends of the arms and the hearth.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the shape of theconical member or cap 46 may be varied without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. Thus, for example, this member might bereplaced by a generally flat What is claimed as new and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for drying and burning waste material, a furnacechamber, a grate area constructed and arranged for burning said wastematerial, means including a hollow perforated stoking arm for graduallyadvancing said waste material toward said grate area, means for passinga current of air through said perforated stoking arm to dry said wastematerial, and a generally conically shaped hearth area having theperiphery thereof adjacent said grate area and over which said arm isadapted to thrust the dried material perforated plate or it might bemounted upon a tion then being afforded by the currents of air passingthrough the perforations 51 of the stoking arms 52.

The rotating assembly comprised in the conical member 46 and the arms52, as is apparent from the drawings, may be of an exceedingly durableconstruction free of irregularly protruding parts and therefore avoidingany possibility that the rotating parts would become entangled in theirregular waste material.

While the invention has been described in detall with respect to aparticular preferred exampie, it will be understood by those skilled inthe onto the grate area.

2. Incinerating apparatus for drying and burning waste materialcomprising, in combination, a furnace chamber having an annular floorsection constructed and arranged for burning waste material,an'upstanding rotatable hollow member comprising a perforated cap andhaving a hollow perforated stoking arm attached thereto for graduallyadvancing said waste material onto said annular floor section, means forpassing a current of air. through said hollow perforated stoking arm andsaid cap to thereby dry said waste material, and a generally conicalhearth area having its lower peripheral portions adjacent the inner edgeof said annular floor section, the upper portions thereof being adjacentsaid rotatable hollow member.

3. In apparatus for drying and burning waste material, a furnace chamberhaving an annular floor section comprising grate areas for burning saidwaste material, an upstanding rotatable hollow stem having an arcuatelyextending hollow perforated stoking arm attached thereto for slowlymoving said waste material onto said grate areas, the outer end portionsof said arcuate stoking arm being curved rearwardly with respect to thedirection of rotation thereof, and a generally conical hearth areahaving the lower peripheral portions thereof surrounded by said annulargrate areas and the upper portions thereof adjacent said rotatablehollow member.

4. In apparatus for drying and burning waste material, a furnace chamberhaving a substantially horizontal annular grate area, an upstandingrotatable hollow stem having a hollow perforated stoking arm attachedthereto for gradually moving said waste material onto said grate area,the lower surface of said stoking arm being inclined with respect to theplane of said horizontal grate area, means for passing a current of airthrough said hollow perforated stoking arm to thereby dry said wastematerial, and a generally conical hearth area surrounded by said gratearea, said hearth area being spaced from and substantially paralleltothe aforesaid lower surface of said stoking arm.

v5. In apparatus for drying and burning waste material, a furnacechamber having a floor section comprising grate areas for burning saidwaste material, an upstanding rotatable hollow stem, a perforated captherefor, a plurality of arcuately extending hollow perforated stokingarms attached thereto for slowly moving said waste material onto saidgrate areas, means for passing a current of air through said cap andthrough said stoking arms for drying said waste material, and

areas and the upper portions thereof adjacent said rotatable stem.

6. Incinerating apparatus for drying and buming waste materialcomprising a furnace chamber. the central floor area of said chambercomprising an upwardly extending conical and substantially imperforatehearth, an annular grate area surrounding said conical hearth, saidhearth and grate area respectively being constructed and arranged fordrying and then burning the waste material, means for discharging airinto a pile of material on said hearth, including an upstandingrotatable hollow member mounted at the central portion of said hearthand having air discharge openings in its surface, and 'means extendingadJacent said hearth, generally outwardly-and non-radially from saidmember and rotatable therewith for advancing the lowermost and driedmaterial of said pile gradually outwardly of said hearth onto said gratearea.

'1. Incine'rating apparatus for drying and burnin: waste materialcomprising a furnace chamher, said chamber having a substantiallycircular stationary central floor area forming I.

hearth adapted to supportat least the central portions of a pile of thewaste material to be dried and burned, said hearth being surrounded by astationary generally annular grate area within the.

so Irate area.

